<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Wound reparative process after surgery, burns, injuries, and inflammatory processes results in a spectrum of scar formation ranging from nearly scarless healing to excessive fibrosis or atrophy. Scarring is considered a major medical problem that leads to aesthetic and functional sequelae. Scar tissue is clinically distinguished from normal skin by an aberrant color, rough surface texture, increased thickness (hypertrophy), occurrence of contraction, and firmness. In the last decade, the concept of wound healing kinetics has been developed to describe the delicate balance of cell activity involved in scar formation and remodeling. Hypertrophic scars and keloids are formed as a result of the process of abnormal wound healing. Despite all that has been written on improving the appearance of these types of scars, there are no definitive management protocols. The aim of the present article is to make a brief review of the basic wound healing, while focusing on medicine’s latest understanding of the development and treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.</p></abstract>

Wound reparative process after surgery, burns, injuries, and inflammatory processes results in a spectrum of scar formation ranging from nearly scarless healing to excessive fibrosis or atrophy. Scarring is considered a major medical problem that leads to aesthetic and functional sequelae. Scar tissue is clinically distinguished from normal skin by an aberrant color, rough surface texture, increased thickness (hypertrophy), occurrence of contraction, and firmness. In the last decade, the concept of wound healing kinetics has been developed to describe the delicate balance of cell activity involved in scar formation and remodeling. Hypertrophic scars and keloids are formed as a result of the process of abnormal wound healing. Despite all that has been written on improving the appearance of these types of scars, there are no definitive management protocols. The aim of the present article is to make a brief review of the basic wound healing, while focusing on medicine’s latest understanding of the development and treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids – Contemporary Concepts and Treatment Options

Unit of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Military Medical Academy, Sofia

Department of Dermatovenereology and Allergology, Military Medical Academy, Sofia

Acta Medica Bulgarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Wound reparative process after surgery, burns, injuries, and inflammatory processes results in a spectrum of scar formation ranging from nearly scarless...

Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids – Contemporary Concepts and Treatment Options

Published Online: Nov 05, 2014

Page range: 57 - 74

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2014-0008

© 2014

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.